On offense, Packers will need big contributions from Boykin, Bostick

Orlando - If the Packers don't re-sign TE Jermichael Finley - and that has been a reasonable assumption for a long time - they will have some production to make up on offense.

Losing Finley's threat to opposing defenses - as well as his 25 catches for 300 yards and 3 TDs in six games last year - and WR James Jones' 59 catches for 817 yards and 3 TDs is nothing to sneeze at. The Packers have never lacked in targets for QB Aaron Rodgers, but this season there are more question marks than they've had in awhile.

The Packers are assuming that Jordy Nelson will be productive as ever and Randall Cobb will avoid injury next season, which definitely are not givens. There's probably a chance they'll add a receiver in the draft, maybe in the first two rounds, but that is not given.

Coach Mike McCarthy is banking on a couple of players to emerge as offensive threats, none more than WR Jarrett Boykin and TE Brandon Bostick.

As the No. 4 receiver last year, Boykin had a very solid year, catching 49 passes for 681 yards and 3 TDs. He also was an after-thought to most defenses given the threat that Nelson and Jones presented in the passing game and RB Eddie Lacy in the running game.

Assuming Boykin, an undrafted rookie in 2012, is the No. 3, things are going to be tougher for him this year. He's a known entity now.

"As far as our receiver group, you've got to be excited about obviously Jordy and Randall and Boykin," McCarthy said Wednesday. "I can't say enough about Boykin. The young man is a heckuva player.

"He's done it the right way, special teams, he's performed every opportunity he's given. So it's time for some of our other young guys to step up. We'll see what the next couple months bring us as far as player acquisition."

Asked what would be Boykin's biggest challenge, McCarthy said being a target.

"He's going to probably see more challenges really from the defense," McCarthy said. "I mean, he's played on special teams, he's played enough reps for us, you feel like you know what you have as a player. His confidence has really grown particularly throughout last year.

"He's had good production with his opportunities so really just the consistency in his performance and A No. 1, it's always availability."

At tight end, McCarthy said he was happy the team was able to re-sign Andrew Quarless, but the player who most resembles Finley is Bostick, a former small college receiver. Bostick had a hard time seeing action until he started to perform on special teams.

Over the course of two years, McCarthy said he has grown to become a much better blocker through his work in practice and the special teams units. Bostick, who is 24, caught seven passes for 120 yards and a touchdown last season.

"When you look at performance on special teams it's always a pretty good indicator of how guys are going to transition to their offensive and defensive responsibilities," McCarthy said. "And Bostick's right there. I thought he really imporved and was one of our four core players on special teams.

"He's doing some really good things in his limited opportunities on offense. I mean, he was in my opinion our best blocker in a limited number of opportunities. That is something he had to grow into, develop into. I look at him as still a young ascending player."

McCarthy said he expects Quarless to be better this season because he'll be almost two years removed from ripping up his knee. Quarless was better in the passing game late in the season, but his blocking was terrible at times.

About Tom Silverstein

Tom Silverstein has covered the Green Bay Packers since 1989. He is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year award winner.